Two years after Kobe Bryant’s dying, Jerry West concerning the ‘shock and sadness’

Jerry West spent a lifetime changing into one of the crucial adorned figures in NBA historical past as a participant and an govt, however nowadays, his routine contains each day exercises, coronavirus testing and a daily gin rummy sport with some buddies.
West, 83, can be a guide with the Los Angeles Clippers and likes to remain present on at the moment’s NBA sport, evaluating gamers simply as he used to when he was a workforce govt.
In the previous two years, West has confronted the deaths of two shut buddies in Elgin Baylor, a Hall of Fame participant who turned his mentor when the Los Angeles Lakers drafted West, and Kobe Bryant, whom West traded for as common supervisor of the Lakers shortly after Bryant was drafted by the Charlotte Hornets in 1996. Baylor, 86, died of pure causes in March 2021, and Bryant, 41, was killed in a helicopter crash in January 2020.
West just lately spoke to The New York Times about working by way of his grief, struggling to inform individuals he loves them and appreciating a former roommate for “saving my life.”
Vanessa Bryant shared a photograph of her late husband Kobe carrying an “I Can’t Breathe” T-shirt. The picture of Kobe Bryant was taken earlier than a Los Angeles Lakers sport in December 2014. The T-shirt referenced the ultimate phrases of Eric Garner, who died in police custody in New York City in July 2014. (Source: Vanessa/Instagram)
This interview has been condensed and edited for readability.
Q: In the previous two years, two of your shut buddies within the basketball world have died: Elgin Baylor, whom you starred with on the Lakers within the early Sixties, and Kobe Bryant. What has been the toughest half about coping with your grief?
A: When I heard that Elgin handed away — and let’s begin with him first, as a result of it was after Kobe handed away — it was simply unbelievably hurtful. The first day once I discovered about [Baylor’s death], I used to be down in Palm Springs, and I simply sat round there and was simply quiet. Very introspective. And, frankly, I obtained in a golf cart, and I simply went out, and there was a driving vary. I simply was like a child, I assume. Couldn’t imagine it. As a lot as I appreciated him, I didn’t notice the depth of it till the primary day. I actually didn’t.
It was like — I misplaced my greatest buddy. I misplaced somebody who meant extra to me than only a basketball participant. For three days I is perhaps doing one thing — I is perhaps hitting golf balls or chipping golf balls or placing golf balls — and actually, I’d simply must cease.
I don’t suppose individuals understood what my relationship with him actually was. I’m certain they knew we have been teammates: Mr. Inside, Mr. Outside. I don’t suppose they understood the aggressive a part of it and what a bond you’re feeling when you may have somebody you’re feeling like is as aggressive as you. He by no means modified. Never put himself above anybody. Those are the issues to me that made it additionally a harsh and ugly feeling when he handed away.
Q: Did one thing change after these three days?
A: No, I by no means actually overlook it. I is perhaps driving round in Los Angeles and go by someplace that was conversant in me years in the past that can remind me of him, as a result of he used to affiliate in these areas, locations he lived right here in Los Angeles. Because he was non-public, individuals didn’t actually get to know him. If he had been in at the moment’s sport, he can be larger than life. One of probably the most distinctive and unbelievable individuals.
I solely had one different individual in my life like that. Going up in faculty, my roommate Willie Akers. To at the present time, we stay unbelievable buddies. Sometimes I thank him for saving my life. All the interior battles I nonetheless face: my battles with melancholy, disappointment with individuals who ought to know higher and the way in which they deal with individuals.
Q: What do you imply once you say Akers saved your life?
A: There have been a whole lot of occasions I didn’t wish to dwell. There’s two occasions the place it was horrifying and I used to be proper on the sting. Life was simply too painful for me. When you develop up with not a whole lot of love in your own home … I’ve typically mentioned, a minimum of in my life, love is a phrase I’m not fairly conversant in. For me, the phrase I’d use would most likely be “like.” I actually like that individual. You can love individuals and so they’ll by no means comprehend it. For males to inform males they love them, it nearly appears antiquated.
Q: Did you ever inform Elgin that you simply cherished him?
A: Yes. It wasn’t till later in life, when he had had some well being points.
Q: When you consider Kobe, what involves thoughts?
A: It’s actually attention-grabbing as a result of he didn’t have a full life. I noticed him turn out to be an excellent father. Used to see him, particularly after he retired — he and his daughter [Gianna], who have been each killed in that tragic helicopter crash. I simply noticed this monumental love and respect for this little lady. She was type of the apple of his eye.
He was simply a type of distinctive gamers that comes alongside. He had a giant character. He was very shiny. He was going to be an even bigger success off the courtroom than on the courtroom. He was taken away too younger.

Around my home, my children, after they have been younger, have been big Kobe Bryant followers. They don’t dwell right here, however of their bedrooms, that are nonetheless intact, you go in there, and there’s stuff that displays Kobe Bryant’s life as a participant.
His affect on this home has all the time been right here as a result of he was in my home quite a bit. Watching him develop up, watching this insatiable want to be the most effective. When he will get to the highest of the mountain, impulsively, he’s climbing one other mountain. And then it’s all gone.
Q: Do you consider the day he died?
A: It’s exhausting to not be reminded of the day he handed away. I don’t suppose anybody will overlook that for a very long time. I’ve typically questioned if he had lived to, say, Elgin Baylor’s age and even my age, would individuals take a look at him the identical approach? I’m undecided they’d. Just the shock and unhappiness of seeing this very younger man’s life taken appeared inconceivable.
Q: Is it exhausting so that you can speak about this?
A: I most likely speak much more about him than Elgin due to the timing and the tragedy of it. A life taken so younger. Elgin is the one I most likely take into consideration extra as a result of I see myself. You rise up on daily basis, and you’ll’t deny, thank God I’m nonetheless alive, and extra importantly, I don’t have any actual aches and illnesses. Which is all, knock on wooden, as a result of I had a bunch of accidents.
Also, the truth that I nonetheless take pleasure in studying. I really feel actually blessed. A variety of occasions I see my life move earlier than my eyes. No query, I do. I get these actually blue moods, which typically last more than they used to. Of course, I take a look at life quite a bit in another way than I did then. I’m a lot extra introspective with all of the individuals I’ve seen move away, teammates.
I do know there’s a day on the market that I’m not going to get up. I’m simply lucky to have so many individuals in my life that I can by no means thank for, most significantly, being loyal buddies.